Robert soutter



'(No Model.)

, R. SOUTTER.

CAR AXLE BOXLID.

Patented oct. 1s, '1891.

* UNITED STATES ROBER'l SOUTTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO FRED` iPATENT OFFCE.

A. HAINES, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-AXLE-,BOX LID.

l -SlllCIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,203, datedOctober 13, 1891.

Application filed September 11, 1891. Serial No.405,384. (No model.)

retaining-spring removed from the box. Fig.V

3 is a longitudinal section through the lid, spring, and portion of thebox, showing the lid in closed position. y

A is the axle-box, and B is the lid; C, the spring; D, the pivot-bolt. y

The spring is connected tothe lid at about the middle point of thelength of the latter, and is bowed up from its connection thereto untilit overhangs the line of the pivot of the lid to the box, so that thepivot-boltD passes through the eye C in the spring and through the eye Bin the lid and bindsboth together to the box. The bolt D will be screwedinto the box until the spring has the desired tension-thatis, until itholds the lid as rmly as necessary onto the box. In the drawings I haveshown my preferred method of connecting the spring to the lid, whichconsists in making through the lid transversely at about the middle ofits length the slot B2 and striking the meta-l at one side of said slotupward and at the other side downward, so that the spring, which is aflat steel bar, may be inserted through the slot, and having the endwhich has the eye CVcarried down toward the plane of thelid. The springWillbear against the under side of the lid on the side of the slotremote from the pivot and on the upper side of the lid on the side ofthe slot toward the pivot, and thereafter during further tilting orbending of the spring toward the plane of the lid it will operate asrigid with the lid to react against such movement.

The connection of the spring to the lid may be varied considerably, andI do not therefore limit myself strictly to the form of connectionshown; but the connection should be such as to make it act as if rigidwith the lid where it is in contact therewith when its free end ispressed toward the latter-z'. e., for the purpose of reacting againstsuch pressure-and it should also be stopped laterally on the lid, sothat the edgewise swinging movement of the lid in uncovering the boxshall carry the spring positively with it.

It is of considerable importance that the spring should be of adifferent pieceof metal from the lid, because the spring should be ofsteel in order to have the requisite capacity for receiving tension,while the lid is preferably of wrought-iron or rolled-iron plate, sothat it may be readily hammered perfectly liat, or so as to seat on themargin of the box .and make a reasonably close tit at such seat.

Steel-plate cannot readily be brought to this condition by hammeringwhile cold, because of its elasticity. y

` The advantages of this lid and spring, therefore, over other forms nowin use are that while having only one point of bearing upon or contactwith other attachment to the lid,.that point being relatively quiteremote from the pivot toward the other end, the tension ofthespring isexerted much more advantageously upon the lid and holds it much moresecurely than if the pressure were exerted near to the pivot, as in someother forms; and this result is attained as perfectly as if the springwere made to bear upon or be secu red to the lid at two points onopposite sides of the pivot, as in certain' known forms. An advantage ofthe mode of attaching the spring to the cover over any mode which shouldconstitute a permanent attachment, as riveting, is thatit may be removedand a new spring substituted readily and without taking the lid to theshop for the purpose and without mutilating the lidin any way, and alsothat the expense of any more permanent attachment is avoided; but afurther advantage, which is specially related to the other features ofconstruction and mode lid,'as by rivets or bolts or by any otherV Ioo Vv ml methodwhich would absolutely prevent longitudinalmovement at itspointV of attachment, either the cover or the spring would have to havethe eye through which the pivotbolt passes elongated, because if the twoeyes werein line before the spring had been drawn dow-n at all theyvwouldv be out ofi line after the spring had been fiexed, asnecessary'for its tension, because in such flexure the eye would advancesubstantially in an are about the point of attachment of the spring tothe lid. This attachment being such that the spring can bedrivenlongitudinally, even after it is under tension, it' is not necessary t'oelongate either eye, because the spring-would be first inserted in suchposition as to bring the two eyes- C and Bf properlyl coaxial with.the-bolt, and=asthe bolt is tightened and the' eye-C approaches the lidthe spring will at irstby thattightening action be forced longitudinallythroughithelid, and after it has become too tight' to receive suchmotion: vby; the mereftighteningof;` the'bolt-,anocc'asional tap of thehammer on tlre end-ofthespringas the bolt istighten'edwillcause-ittomove sufiicientiy to'lceep'its'eye C in linewiththe eyeD'.

l. In acar-aXleboX, a-lidpivotecl thereto atone end and adaptedv tolswing edgewise about said'pivot to luncoverl the box, aspringwhich isvconnected to the lid atone end onlyY at` apointremote from the p ivotedend of the lid1towardthe other end, said spring extend# ing` from itsAattachment to the lid vtoward and overhanging the pivotetl end; ofthelatter, and the pivot-bolt passing through said overhanging end andadapted to flex thespringtoward the lidto give it tension, substantiallyas set forth.

2. In a car-axle box, a lid pivoted thereto `at one end and adapted toswing edgewise about its pivot to uncover the box, the pivotbolt, and aspring which is retained by the i pivot-bolt andbears and. isfflaterallystopped on theilidat'apoint remote from the pivoted end toward the otherend, substantially as set forth.

3.' In acareaxle box, a Vlid pivoted at one end to the box and adaptedto swing edgewise. on its pivot to uncover the box, said lid `having atransverse slot at a p'o'in'tremote upon being tightened toy flex the.spring to- Ward the lid and: by the tension thus produced-to render the.spring substantiallyrigid with the lid, but capable ofbeing forced.slightly longitudinallyv with respect. thereto, l

substantially as set forth. g f

In testimony whereof I'havehereunto set my hand, at Chicago, Illinois;vinthe presencevv of two witnesses, this Sthday ofSeptember,

, A ROBERT' SOUTTER;

Witnesses;A f

OHAs. S. BURTON, F. A. HAINEs.

